DW Spring 2023 EDITORIAL

The Board of Diabetes NZ continues to debate how best to provide services to people with diabetes in Aotearoa New Zealand. Even though the number is growing, getting our voice heard in a crowded health system continues to be a challenge. This is in the context of ongoing deficits in our annual budget, which means, if this continues, Diabetes NZ will no longer be viable as a charity supporting people with diabetes.

Trustees will be seriously considering how we can generate more funding for the work we do to support people with diabetes. Diabetes NZ receives donations of approximately $100,000 per annum. Our other funding comes from a variety of sources, including grants, government funding, sponsorship, and interest and funds from our investments.

Conscious of the funding constraints we have, we know we are only reaching a small number of people in New Zealand with diabetes. That means we must prioritise what services we can realistically provide.

One of our priorities is ensuring our website provides useful, accurate, and relevant information for people with diabetes. This allows us to grow our reach in a cost-effective way. Our site’s videos provide useful information for people with diabetes and their wider whānau. Our social media platforms, Facebook (reaching more than 350,000), Instagram, a monthly Connect e-newsletter, and a quarterly Kaha’s Connect for our younger readers and their family, provide information and articles on a wide variety of topics.

Another priority has been advocating for Pharmac to fund CGMs for all. Pharmac signalled in February 2023 that it was taking the first steps in the process to commence the funding of this technology. We are not sure what this will look like, but significant progress is being made after the considerable effort of a wide range of people.

We continue to actively support our diabetes youth given the significant value rangatahi with type 1 diabetes gain from activities and camps that bring together whānau for mutual support. With active local youth coordinators, supported by local committees, this area of what

Our Diabetes Community Coordinator programme is now operating in eight regions, with nine coordinators in the field. What is exciting is that this is a partnership programme with various health organisations, including iwi, Primary Health Organisations, and Māori and Pacific Health Providers. Collaboratively, we work within communities to support those at risk of, or with, diabetes.

Thirty-three people have set up a regular giving programme, donating an amount they can afford on a regular basis. If every person in New Zealand with diabetes donated $10 per annum, we would be able to expand our reach and our programmes. Would you consider signing up to a regular giving programme to help us to help you?

In this issue of Diabetes Wellness, we catch up with Tracked stars, Emily and Regan, read what the main political party’s policies are on diabetes, and learn from three gardeners whose physical and mental health has been nurtured through gardening.

CATHERINE TAYLOR
Board Chair, Diabetes NZ